JPH11127098A - Space communication method - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [PROBLEMS] In conventional satellite communication, it is necessary to secure a large number of geosynchronous orbital positions, and the impact on operation of medium- and low-altitude orbit satellites with ground stations due to visible time restrictions is large, and communication Transmission loss and transmission time delay occur, and it is necessary to equip each ground station and satellite with a large antenna. SOLUTION: An artificial satellite group equipped with a satellite communication device having a transceiver of a conformal array antenna system and a repeater is connected by a plurality of cables,
High-capacity satellite communication between satellites and ground stations has been made possible by using the conformal antenna method without using data lines by radio waves.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method of connecting a plurality of artificial satellites provided with a communication array of a digital beam forming system to satellites in orbit by an optical fiber cable,
The present invention relates to a method for performing satellite communication.

[0002]

FIG. 9 shows the concept of conventional satellite communication. 2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, communication between satellites orbits orbiting satellites orbiting the earth at an orbit altitude of several hundred km to 2000 km or less may not have a communication line in some cases. I had to communicate.

In FIG. 9, reference numeral 1 denotes an orbiting satellite orbiting the earth, with an orbit altitude of several hundred km to 2000 km.
The following are arranged at regular intervals on the orbit orbiting the earth, are constituted by 1a, 1b, 1c, 1d, etc., and 2 is a satellite orbit around the earth where the orbiting satellite 1 is arranged. 3 is a geostationary communication satellite that controls communication between the orbiting satellite and the ground station, and includes 3a, 3b, etc., 4 is the earth, 5 is a ground station that relays satellite communication, 5 is a ground station, Is a constituent segment on the ground in the space communication system, and is a ground station for relaying satellite communication.
5b, etc., 6 is a ground station communication antenna in the ground station 5, 7 is a ground station receiver, 8 is a ground station transmitter, 9
Is a ground communication device, and 10 is a ground user. A is a communication link between the orbiting satellite and the geostationary communication satellite, and is composed of Aa, Ab, etc., corresponding to the geostationary communication satellite,
B is a communication link between the geosynchronous satellite and the ground station, which is also composed of Ba, Bb, etc., corresponding to the geosynchronous communication satellite,
C is a communication line between the ground station and the terrestrial user, performs bidirectional communication of A and B, D is a communication link between the orbiting satellite and the ground station, and a downlink line D1 from the satellite to the ground station. And an uplink line D2 from the ground station to the satellite
And the downlink line D1 is composed of D1a, D1
1b, the uplink line D2 is composed of D2a, D2b, and the like. Here, an example of the number of satellites, the number of orbits between satellites, the number of ground stations, and the like is shown as a sample, but the same applies to other numbers and numbers of units.

Next, the operation will be described. When transmitting information such as data, voice, and images from the orbiting satellite 1 orbiting the earth 4 to a user on the ground, first, the geostationary satellite 3
The communication link A transmits the data, and the communication link B transmits the data to the ground station 5 on the earth. At this time, of the communication links D, the downlink D
1 is transmitted to the ground station 5 on the earth, received by the transmitter 7, and subjected to data processing by the terrestrial communication device 9, after which data is transmitted to the terrestrial user 10 via the communication line C. Further, the data transmitted from the terrestrial user 10 is subjected to data processing by the terrestrial communication device in the terrestrial station 5 through the communication line C, and then transmitted from the transmitter 9 to the satellite 1 orbiting the uplink D2 from the antenna 6 or It is transmitted to the geosynchronous orbit satellite 2.

[0005]

Since the conventional space communication method is performed as described above, it is necessary to secure a large number of geosynchronous orbital positions, which are valuable resources in space. There were problems such as a large impact on operation due to restrictions on the visible time with the station, a communication transmission loss and a transmission time delay, and a large antenna required for each of the ground station and the satellite. In response to these problems, some mobile communication systems currently under development as a means of realizing mobile communication include a method in which a large number of satellites are arranged at middle and low orbit altitudes and inter-satellite communication is performed. Satellite communication systems have been proposed and are being developed. Also, a method has been proposed in which a plurality of satellites are arranged in orbit, and the satellites are connected by an optical cable. However, even with these methods, cost impact due to satellite attitude control function, loss of communication system function due to disconnection of optical cable, complexity of satellite orbit maintenance operation, radio interference between adjacent satellites, realization of simultaneous tracking control of multiple satellites Many problems remain, such as limitations on communication performance and communication transmission capacity.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is proposed to solve the above-mentioned problems, and can avoid radio interference caused by ordinary satellite communication, and can be used to prevent the influence of a fatal time delay in geostationary satellite communication transmission. Space communication method that enables mobile communication by increasing transmission capacity, improving the robustness to the disconnection of the trunk line of the optical cable system, and improving the attitude control function normally provided in communication satellites. It is intended to improve the easiness of communication system construction by omitting it.

[0007]

A space communication method according to a first aspect of the present invention connects a satellite group equipped with a satellite communication device having a conformal array antenna type transceiver and a repeater by a plurality of cables. By doing so, large-capacity satellite communication between satellites and ground stations can be performed by the conformal antenna system without using a data line using radio waves.

[0008] A space communication method according to a second aspect of the present invention includes:
A mobile or fixed earth station equipped with a satellite group in orbit, an optical fiber cable connecting the satellites, a communication antenna, a transmitter, a receiver, and communication equipment mounted on the satellite, and an orbiting satellite. By using a conformal antenna to form a link between the satellites, communication between a plurality of regions on the earth is performed, thereby enabling large-capacity satellite communication between satellites and ground stations.

Further, a space communication method according to a third aspect of the present invention
Using multiple optical fiber cables to connect satellites,
A high-capacity satellite communication between the satellite and the ground station can be performed with high reliability by cross-linking the satellites and taking a redundant configuration.

[0010] A space communication method according to a fourth invention is characterized in that:
A large-capacity satellite communication between a satellite and a ground station by applying a polygonal satellite structure such as a hexagon or octagon to facilitate attachment of solar cells on the structure. It is.

A space communication method according to a fifth aspect of the present invention includes:
Attitude control function based on earth sensor, gyro, sun sensor, etc. Based on on-orbit attitude determination function by on-board control circuit, digital beam forming control is performed, and autonomous pointing control between satellite and earth is performed. By doing so, highly operable satellite communication between the satellite and the ground station can be performed.

A space communication method according to a sixth aspect of the present invention
A beacon signal from the ground is received by the onboard receiver, the attitude is determined by the onboard control circuit, and digital beamforming control is performed to enable highly operable satellite communication between the satellite and the ground station. is there.

A space communication method according to a seventh aspect of the present invention
Digital beamforming control is performed by detecting the satellite orbit and attitude information by the onboard GPS receiver, and the directional control between the satellite and the earth station is performed by autonomously controlling the pointing to the satellite and the earth. It enables high satellite communication.

[0014] The space communication method according to the eighth invention is characterized in that:
By having the on-orbit attitude determination function by the on-board control circuit based on the attitude control sensor data, at the same time equipping the solar structure paddle on the satellite structure and controlling the sun direction,
By enabling high-power communication missions that require large power, satellite communications between satellites and ground stations can be performed at transmission rates that require large capacity.

[0015]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Embodiment 1 FIG. FIG. 1 is a functional explanatory view showing Embodiment 1 of the present invention. In the figure, reference numeral 1 denotes a group of artificial satellites orbiting the earth, and a plurality of artificial satellites such as 1a, 1b, 1c, 1d, 1e, and 1f. 2 is an optical fiber path for communicatively coupling the artificial satellite group 1, and the two artificial satellites 1
a, 2a connecting 1b, etc., 2b, 2c, 2d, 2
e, 2f, etc., each is composed of optical fiber paths, 4 is the earth, 11 is a satellite communication device in the artificial satellite 1a, 12 is a receiver forming the satellite communication device 11, and 13 is a relay forming the satellite communication device 11. , 14 are transmitters constituting the satellite communication device 11. E is a conformal intersatellite antenna that communicatively couples two satellites. Further, in this embodiment, the satellite communication system is constituted by ten artificial satellites and ten optical fibers, respectively, but the number of artificial satellites and optical fibers is not limited.

The operation of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 according to the present invention will be described below. The space communication method according to the present invention includes a satellite communication device having an array antenna, a transmitter, a repeater, and a receiver mounted on a plurality of artificial satellite groups, disposing the satellites in substantially the same orbit plane, An optical fiber cable is installed along the route, adjacent satellites are connected as a communication path by optical fiber, and satellite communication can be performed by a conformal aerial line for communication between satellites. Here, the artificial satellite 1b orbiting the earth 4 to the artificial satellite 1e
Shows the operation for data transmission. First, satellite 1
b transmits data to the artificial satellite 1a using the optical fiber 2a. Data transmitted from the artificial satellite 1a passes through the antenna E from the transmitter 14 of the satellite communication device 13 in the artificial satellite 1a, and passes through the satellite communication device 1 in the artificial satellite 1d.
1 and received by the receiver 12 in the satellite communication device 11. After that, the data is transmitted from the transmitter 14 via the repeater 13 in the satellite communication device 11,
It is transmitted to the artificial satellite 1e via the optical fiber 2c.

The method according to the invention allows the use of medium to low altitude orbits since no inter-satellite communication requires a ground station and does not require valuable geosynchronous orbit positions. The problem of communication transmission loss, transmission time delay, and antenna size is improved because the transmission path is shortened as compared with the geosynchronous satellite, from the use of the low orbit satellite. In addition, since a data line using radio waves is not used, there is no possibility of radio wave interference, and the communication transmission capacity can be increased because of optical fiber communication.

Embodiment 2 FIG. FIG. 2 is a functional explanatory view showing a second embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, reference numeral 1 denotes an artificial satellite orbiting the earth, 2 denotes an optical fiber path for communicatively coupling the artificial satellite 1, 4 denotes the earth, and 5 denotes communication equipment. The mobile or fixed earth station with E, E is the link between the on-orbit satellite and the ground station using a conformal antenna. The communication system according to the present invention forms a conformal aerial between an on-orbit satellite and a ground station, thereby performing communication between a plurality of terrestrial regions, thereby achieving large-capacity satellite communication between the satellite and the ground station. It is something that can be done.

In this case, as the ground station, not only a station fixed on the earth, but also a communication such as an airplane, a helicopter, a car, a human, an animal, an observation buoy, a ship, a train, a robot, etc., as necessary. Includes everything. This concept is effective not only in the second embodiment but also in all the embodiments of the present invention. By forming a link using a conformal antenna between orbiting satellites and ground stations, by communicating between multiple terrestrial regions,
It enables large-capacity satellite communications between satellites and ground stations.

Embodiment 3 FIG. 3 is a supplementary explanatory view showing Embodiment 3 of the present invention. In addition to the general concept of FIG. 1, 1 is an artificial satellite orbiting the earth, 21 is a plurality of optical fiber cables connecting between satellites, Reference numeral 22 denotes a plurality of optical fiber cables for connecting to other satellites, 23 denotes a photocoupler for connecting a plurality of optical fibers, 15 denotes a satellite data processing device, 16 denotes an optical signal amplifier, 18 denotes a transmitter, and 17 denotes a receiver. , 20 are communication antenna systems, 2
1 is a conformal array, 211 to 22n are transmitting / receiving elements, and 19 or a digital beam controller. In this embodiment, a satellite communication system is configured by transmitting and receiving four optical fibers to one artificial satellite.
The number of optical fibers and optical fibers is not limited. In this case, the reliability of the data line can be improved by installing a plurality of optical fibers for connecting the artificial satellites, making the communication line redundant, and mechanically holding the laid optical fibers. Also, as shown in FIG. 3, a plurality of optical fibers for connecting satellites are installed to make the communication line redundant, and a photocoupler is installed at each node of the laid optical fiber so that data can be transmitted to the redundant line. By doing so, the reliability of the data line can be improved.

Embodiment 4 FIG. FIG. 4 is a supplementary explanatory view showing Embodiment 4 of the present invention. In the general concept of FIG. 1, 1 is an artificial satellite orbiting the earth, and a solar cell 24 is placed on a hexagonal structure 23. Is mounted on the satellite structure 23
Arrays 21 and 221-
n is a transmitting / receiving element. Here, the solar cell 24
However, although the example in which the satellite structure is mounted on the hexagonal satellite structure 23 is shown, the same applies to the case where a polygonal satellite structure such as an octagon is applied, and the solar cells on the structure are easily attached. .

Embodiment 5 FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of a supplementary function showing a fifth embodiment of the present invention. In addition to the general concept of FIG.
26 is a communication transmitter, 27 is a communication receiver, 25 is a digital beam controller, 28 is an earth sensor, 30 is a gyro, and 29 is a sun sensor. By having an on-orbit attitude determination function by (ACE), digital beam forming control is performed, and pointing control with respect to satellites and the earth is independently performed.

Embodiment 6 FIG. FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of a supplementary function showing a sixth embodiment of the present invention. In addition to the general concept of FIG. 1, as an internal configuration of an artificial satellite orbiting the earth,
A beacon receiver 31 receives a beacon signal from the ground by the mounted beacon receiver 31, determines the attitude by the mounted control circuit 31, and performs digital beamforming control.

Embodiment 7 FIG. FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of a supplementary function showing a seventh embodiment of the present invention. In addition to the general concept of FIG. 1, as an internal configuration of a satellite orbiting the earth,
Reference numeral 32 denotes a GPS receiver, and a GPS receiver 3 mounted thereon.
2. By detecting satellite orbit and attitude information,
Performs digital beamforming control, and autonomously controls the pointing with respect to satellites and the earth.

Embodiment 8 FIG. FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram of a supplementary function showing an eighth embodiment of the present invention. In addition to the general concept of FIG.
32 is a GPS receiver, 33 is a paddle control electronic circuit, 34
Is a solar battery paddle and has an on-orbit attitude determining function by an on-board control circuit 27 based on attitude control sensor data. At the same time, a solar battery paddle 34 is provided in a satellite structure to control the sun direction, thereby achieving high power consumption. High-power communication missions that require

[0026]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, communication between an artificial satellite in orbit around the earth and another artificial satellite, or an area on the earth, and communication between the areas using an optical fiber in orbit, Since radio interference can be avoided, the time delay of communication transmission can be reduced, and the transmission capacity can be increased, mobile communication between a plurality of regions on the earth can be performed.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, an artificial satellite in orbit around the earth and another artificial satellite, or a region on the earth,
Communication between regions using optical fibers in orbit can avoid radio wave interference, reduce the time delay of communication transmission, and increase the transmission capacity. Mobile communication can be performed between the regions.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, an artificial satellite in orbit around the earth and another artificial satellite, or a region on the earth,
Communication between regions using optical fibers in orbit can avoid radio wave interference, reduce the time delay of communication transmission, and increase the transmission capacity. Mobile communication can be performed between the regions.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, an artificial satellite in orbit around the earth and another artificial satellite, or a region on the earth,
Communication between regions using optical fibers in orbit can avoid radio wave interference, reduce the time delay of communication transmission, and increase the transmission capacity. Mobile communication can be performed between the regions.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, an artificial satellite in orbit around the earth and another artificial satellite, or a region on the earth,
Communication between regions using optical fibers in orbit can avoid radio wave interference, reduce the time delay of communication transmission, and increase the transmission capacity. Mobile communication can be performed between the regions.

According to the sixth invention, an artificial satellite in orbit around the earth and another artificial satellite, or a region on the earth,
Communication between regions using optical fibers in orbit can avoid radio wave interference, reduce the time delay of communication transmission, and increase transmission capacity, and Mobile communication can be performed between the regions.

According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, an artificial satellite in orbit around the earth and another artificial satellite, or a region on the earth,
Communication between regions using optical fibers in orbit can avoid radio wave interference, reduce the time delay of communication transmission, and increase the transmission capacity. Mobile communication can be performed between the regions.

According to the eighth invention, the artificial satellite in orbit around the earth and another artificial satellite, or a region on the earth,
Communication between regions using optical fibers in orbit can avoid radio wave interference, reduce the time delay of communication transmission, and increase the transmission capacity. Mobile communication can be performed between the regions.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a space communication method according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a space communication method according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a space communication method according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a space communication method according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a space communication method according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a space communication method according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a space communication method according to a seventh embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a space communication method according to an eighth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a conventional space communication method.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 satellites orbiting the earth, 2 optical fiber paths, 3
Geostationary satellite, 4 earth, 5 earth station, 6 earth station communication antenna, 7 earth station receiver, 8 earth station transmitter, 9 earth communication equipment, 10 earth user, 11 satellite communication device in artificial satellite 1, 12 satellite communication Receiver, 13 satellite communication repeater, 14 satellite communication transmitter, 15 satellite data processing device, 16 optical signal amplifier, 17 receiver, 18 transmitter, 19 digital beam controller, 20 communication antenna system, 21 conformal array , 22 transmitting / receiving element, 23 structural body, 24 solar cell, 25 digital beam controller, 26 communication system transmitter, 28 communication system receiver, 28 earth sensor, 29 sun sensor, 30
Gyro, 31 beacon receiver, 32 GPS receiver, 33 paddle control electronics, 34 solar paddle.

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. A communication antenna comprising a plurality of elements arranged on the outer surface of a spacecraft, a conformal array antenna using a digital beamforming system by a control device for controlling the plurality of elements, and a spacecraft. A satellite communication device equipped with an onboard transceiver and repeater, and a satellite group that launched a spherical satellite group with spherically arranged solar cells into orbit around the earth in almost the same orbit plane, A space communication method characterized by performing communication between satellites in orbit by using a satellite group network in which artificial satellites are constituted by optical fiber cables and an antenna formed by a conformal mounted on the satellites. 2. A mobile or fixed earth comprising a group of artificial satellites in orbit, an optical fiber cable connecting between satellites, a communication antenna mounted on the satellite, a transmitter and a receiver, and satellite communication equipment. By forming a link between the station and the in-orbit satellite using a conformal antenna,
2. The space communication method according to claim 1, wherein communication between a plurality of terrestrial regions is performed. 3. The space communication method according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of optical fiber cables for connecting the satellites are provided, the satellites are cross-linked, and a redundant configuration is adopted. 4. The space communication method according to claim 1, wherein a solar cell having a polygonal shape such as a hexagon or an octagon is applied to easily attach solar cells on the structure. 5. An on-orbit attitude determination function by an on-board control circuit based on attitude control sensor data such as an earth sensor, a gyro, a sun sensor, etc., thereby performing digital beamforming control and pointing to satellites and the earth. The space communication method according to claim 1, wherein the control is performed autonomously. 6. The space communication method according to claim 1, wherein a beacon signal from the ground is received by an onboard receiver, an attitude is determined by an onboard control circuit, and digital beamforming control is performed. 7. A digital beamforming control is performed by detecting satellite orbit and attitude information by an onboard GPS receiver, and a pointing control with respect to a satellite and the earth is independently performed. 2. The space communication method according to 1. 8. An on-orbit attitude determination function is provided by an on-board control circuit based on attitude control sensor data.
2. The space communication method according to claim 1, wherein a solar battery paddle is provided in the satellite structure, and a high-power communication mission requiring high power can be mounted by controlling the sun direction.